Page 73 of Own Me

"Your sister was the first one outside myfamigliato know of my arranged marriage. She understands that this is my duty as a Marchetti."

Ysabel was starting to remember what had happened earlier.This was why,she realized,so many more people than usual had been staring at her like she was a freak.It was because they had already readLa Strega'sannouncement about her engagement to Massimo, and it seemed she was the only one who hadn't known about it.

Massimo used to trust his instincts as a rule, but his ex-girlfriend's unexpected act of infidelity had changed this. Ynez had warned him long ago about her sister's ability to manipulateand deceive people, and it was this memory that had him grimly observing Ynez's reaction to his words.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ysabel asked uneasily.

"Your reaction to my breakup with your sister was rather...lacking." Was she secretly taking pleasure in the fact that Massimo had dumped her sister because of her?

Ysabel struggled to find the safest way to respond to this without lying. "Our relationship isn't...like others."

"Why not?"

"It's just how it is..." Ysabel knew she should be used to this by now, but her heart still ached every time she was forced to confront the reality of her relationship with Ynez.

She had loved her sister from the moment she was born, and Ynez had...toleratedYsabel's presence for the most part. But everything had changed following their father's unexpected death, and since then Ynez hadn't even bothered to hide her disinterest in Ysabel.

"I do not think that is quite true,signorina...since I knowexactlywhat you did."

"I don't understand—-"

"Ynez told me about what happened to her when she was sixteen."

Ysabel's confusion faded. "I see."

Massimo raised a brow at Ysabel's continued silence. "You do not intend to deny it?"

Ysabel couldn't answer right away, with how her heart was still hurting over Ynez's betrayal.

Perché, Ynez?

That should have been just between them, and she still remembered how Ynez had been crying so, so hard when she herself swore not to speak of it to any other living soul. That was, in fact, the only and last time Ynez had hugged her, and even now, Ysabel could not forget how she had been so full of hope, thinking that she and her sister could finally have the kind of bond she had always dreamed of.

"Your silence is good enough, I suppose. You at least know it is best not to lie to me, and I would have known if you were to lie." Massimo saw Ysabel's eyes widen, and a sardonic smile twisted over his lips. "Sì, signorina.I was able to obtain a copy of your taped confession to the police, and so I know every detail about the incident."

No wonder,Ysabel thought sickly.No wonder Massimo had always seemed aloof and even contemptuous of her.

Ynez had only been sixteen when a man twice her age had started stalking her. It eventually culminated with the man being arrested after his failed attempt to kidnap Ynez from school. He had gone berserk as soon as the police had cuffed him behind his back, and he had left everyone in the vicinity in shock as he started shouting and cursing Ynez, blaming her for leading him on with their online relationship.

I gave you all my fucking money, you gold-digging bitch! My family's left me because of you! My company's fucking gone because of you! I will never fucking leave you alone, do you hear me?

Ynez had begged Ysabel to do something, saying that their father's death had made her lose her mind with grief, and in the end, Ysabel had been forced to lie for her sister's sake.

I'm the one to blame. I used Ynez's photo because I know she's prettier than me. I knew men would give her whatever she wanted and I wanted your money. So I lied.

Ysabel could still remember how her heart nearly stopped beating when the man had lunged for her as if wanting to strangle her to death. In the blink of an eye, Ynez had been made the victim, and later on, Ynez had also painted herself the heroine, as she sweetly persuaded the man to "forgive" Ysabel in exchange for not pressing charges against him.

Please, signore. I understand why you wanted to kidnap me. And I forgive you for it. But please, in return, forgive my sister. She has not been well since our father died.

Ysabel had done her best to forget that time of her life. But it was as if God was teaching her that running away from the truth never solved things, and as much as it killed her to admit this—-

Ynez will never love me, and I cannot trust her again.

Three

"I'M NOT GOING TO DENYanything." Ysabel fought against the urge to look away even as Massimo's dark gaze locked onto her like the crosshairs of a gun. "Ynez and I were both different persons back then. We were too young..."

Every word Ysabel uttered was the truth, but she was also leaving it to Massimo to interpret it as he willed. All she knew was that it was best for her to heed his advice, and that wasnotto make the mistake of lying to him in any way.

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